Manchester United and England star Rio Ferdinand is the brother of Anton and he took to Twitter to express his disbelief at Blatter's comments.

"Tell me I have just read Sepp Blatter's comments on racism in football wrong....if not then I am astonished," said Ferdinand.

"I feel stupid for thinking that football was taking a leading role against racism.....it seems it was just on mute for a while."

Ferdinand then addressed a question directly to Blatter, saying: "@SeppBlatter your comments on racism are so condescending its almost laughable. If fans shout racist chants but shake our hands is that ok?"

The 'Kick It Out' group, who campaign to banish racism from football in England and Europe said in a statement: "These comments are worryingly out of touch.

"Shaking hands to compensate for a racial slur is not what the game has signed up to, and trivializes the work of campaigns like Kick It Out, which has been in the vanguard of rooting out discrimination and unacceptable behavior in our game for the best part of two decades."

Former England and Liverpool striker Stan Collymore called on Blatter to end his 13-year reign at the top of global football.

"Mr Blatter, your comments about racism are ill-thought and condescending in the extreme. You should resign," Collymore tweeted.

Jermaine Jenas is an England international currently on-loan at Aston Villa from Tottenham Hotspur. The midfielder called Blatter's comments "ridiculous".

"How can the head of the footballing world be so ignorant towards racism! Sepp Blatter's quotes are ridiculous. #educateyourself."